By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

In January of 1979 our family moved to Alabaster from Mobile, Alabama due to a job change.

Parents were Bob and Sandra Thames.

Sons Jeffrey and Brady and daughters Tracy and Courtney (ranging in age from 2 to 12 years) completed the family.

Starting in Oneonta, Alabama and looking for a home from there to the Montevallo, Alabama area was quite the job for me and my Trussville realtor.

On a snowy January day we came across Green Valley subdivision in Alabaster and a home I “dreamed” perfect for our family.

Negotiations went quickly and by the end of the month we were packed, said goodbye to our parents and siblings (they all lived in the Mobile area) and headed to Alabaster.

Soon after we had the children enrolled in school, baseball, softball, football, gymnastics and the best times of our lives began.

Thanks to former Pastor Terry Maynard we joined Elliottsville Cumberland Presbyterian Church and became very involved there.

It was and still is “home.” I credit many people there for being good Christian examples for our children.

What followed was Bob coaching youth football, following the team, cheerleading, basketball, baseball, scouts, and concession stand management.

There was another job change (Bob to Celotex Corporation and me to the Probate Judge’s Office) and then to more than 25 years as a child daycare provider (my favorite job).

High school was fun and college expensive. All four of the children graduated from Thompson High School and then from the University of Montevallo.

Tracy and Courtney are teachers, Jeffrey has his own landscape and lawn care business and Brady is in logistics with a local trucking firm.

We are blessed to have three of the four children close by and Courtney in Columbus, Georgia.

Grandchildren are Madison age 19, Austin age 18, Luke age 10, Jordan age 10 and Kennedy age 9. They are smart, good looking, active and loads of fun … of course!

Bob retired several years ago and helped me with my home daycare.

Papa and Meme enjoyed the last four or five kids of the hundreds I have kept over the years and we are now “officially” retired.

I still talk to all babies and small kids I encounter and miss “my kiddies” very much.

My favorite trips have been the many beach trips we have taken. Somehow we always managed to wind up with “extras” on these trips. What great memories and such great kids.

God has been so good to us. Coming to Alabaster was the best thing that could have happened to us in every way.

It is time to say goodbye to my column. I have enjoyed the dozen years and hope that you have too.